How do you stay visible and relevant in today's digital world? Google makes this easier with Google Business Profile (previously Google My Business), a free tool that helps multiple-location businesses and franchises improve their online presence. Perfect for enhancing local SEO efforts, GBP profiles feature your business in Google's local search results and on Google Maps. Struggling with effectively managing various locations via GBP can be a significant challenge, but Merchynt has the right solutions to simplify this for you.
Consider this your ultimate guide to managing multiple GBP locations in five simple steps.
- Step 1: Set up your Google My Business Account
- Step 2: Add multiple locations to your account
- Step 3: Manage and optimize your business locations
- Step 4: Encourage and manage reviews across all locations
- Step 5: Leverage tools and services for efficient Google My Business Management
Understanding and correctly using GBP will open up a world of opportunities. From showing up in local search results and improving your local SEO to connecting with your audience and driving significant local business revenue. And we, at Merchynt, are here to support you in this process.
In the sections to follow, we'll take a deep dive into these steps. Our focus will be on crisp, clear, small and understandable chunks of information - no unnecessary jargon, no confusing explanations. Just straightforward, practical advice on managing your business's multiple locations on Google. Buckle up, it's time to transform your online presence with GBP and Merchynt's expertise!
Step 1: Setting Up Your Google My Business Account
Creating a Google My Business Account
Creating a Google My Business (GMB) account is the foundational step to manage locations on Google My Business. This account is your gateway to Google's local search ecosystem. It's a simple and free process, as outlined by our Merchynt experts.
Start by navigating to Google My Business, click on "Get on Google", and follow the prompts to establish your listing. Input your official business name, and crucial info like your main business category. The category selection is significant, so ensure you choose the most accurate and relevant category for your business.
Adding Your Business Address and Service Area
Next, you'll be asked if you want to “add a location customers can visit, like a store or office?”. This is an essential detail as many businesses operate as service-area businesses and do not need or allow customers at the brick-and-mortar location. If you're one of those businesses, select the service area(s) that pertain to your business. Your business will still appear for relevant searches in its service area, even if the specific location of your business does not show up on Google Maps.
Add the contact information for the business, including the contact phone number and the current website URL. If your business has a physical location that people can visit, add the business address next. As per Google's guidelines, make sure you enter the complete and exact street address for your profile.
Addressing Common Issues with Google Business Location
At times, you might encounter issues with the business location on Google Maps. If the system can't find your address or the pin is not correctly positioned, you can manually set your Business Profile directly on the map. This involves moving the map until the pin points to your precise business location.
Moreover, if your business doesn't serve customers at its address, you can leave the address field blank and list your service area instead.
Setting up your Google My Business account is just the first step. To truly manage locations on Google My Business and get the most out of this platform, you'll need to verify, optimize, and actively manage your account - something we at Merchynt are skilled at assisting you with. Next, we'll discuss how to add multiple locations to your GMB account.
Step 2: Adding Multiple Locations to Your Google My Business Account
Successfully managing multiple locations on Google My Business begins with adding those locations to your account. This process may vary depending on the number of locations your business operates.
Adding Locations for Businesses with 9 or Fewer Locations
For businesses with nine or fewer locations, here's a simple, step-by-step guide:
- Sign in to Google My Business and access your dashboard: Log into your GMB account and navigate to the dashboard. This is where you can control your business's online presence.
- Find the “Add business” drop-down menu: On the dashboard, you'll find this option typically in the top right corner of your screen.
- Click “Add single business”: A drop-down menu will appear. From this menu, select the option to “Add single business”.
- Enter the location’s information and details: Fill out the necessary details, including business name, address, hours of operation, and contact information. Be sure to provide accurate and consistent information across all locations.
- Verify the listing(s): Google requires you to verify your business to ensure it's legitimate. You can do this via mail, email, or phone. If you have fewer than 10 locations, each one must be verified individually.
Adding Locations for Businesses with More than 10 Locations
If your business has more than 10 locations, the process is slightly different:
- Sign in to Google My Business and access your dashboard: As with fewer locations, start by signing into your Google My Business account and heading to your dashboard.
- Go to the “Add business” tab: From your dashboard, navigate to the “Add business” tab.
- Select “Add more businesses”: This option allows you to add more than one location at a time.
- Upload a spreadsheet with your business locations: Google allows you to upload a spreadsheet with all your business locations. Make sure this spreadsheet is filled out correctly and according to Google's guidelines.
Businesses with 10 or more locations are eligible for bulk verification, making the process much more efficient.
Using Merchynt's ProfilePro for Optimizing Google Business Profile
While adding multiple locations is a crucial step, it's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to managing your Google Business Profile effectively. At Merchynt, we offer ProfilePro, a tool specifically designed to optimize your Google Business Profile.
ProfilePro takes care of tedious tasks such as updating your business information, ensuring the consistency of data across all locations, and optimizing your profile for better visibility. This tool not only saves you time and effort but also ensures your business is presented in the best light possible - helping you attract more customers and grow your business.
Whether you're managing one location or hundreds, effectively manage locations on Google My Business is crucial. With these steps and the help of Merchynt's Google Business Pro services, you're well on your way to maximizing your Google My Business potential.
Step 3: Managing and Optimizing Your Google My Business Locations
After adding your multiple locations to your Google My Business account, the next step is to manage and optimize them. This stage is very important as it ensures that your business profiles are accurate and up-to-date, making it easy for potential customers to find you and learn about what you offer.
Role of Owners and Managers in Google My Business
The owners and managers play a significant role in Google My Business. As a business owner, it's your responsibility to add the right managers to your locations. These managers will help in updating your profiles, responding to customer reviews, and posting updates about your business.
It's crucial to transfer ownership before employees depart to avoid any future issues. Also, ensure that your managers understand the importance of maintaining an updated and optimized Google Business Profile.
Importance of Regularly Updating Information and Publishing New Posts
Regularly updating your information and publishing new posts is key in managing your Google My Business locations. This practice not only helps your business stay relevant but also improves your visibility on search results.
Ensure that your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) match exactly with your other online listings and your store signage. Keep your business hours accurate and up-to-date to avoid any inconvenience to your customers. Also, using relevant keywords in your business description can help customers discover your business more easily when searching for those keywords.
Google My Business also allows you to post updates, promotions, and events via Google Posts. Regularly using this feature can help you engage with your customers and build a loyal customer base.
Using Merchynt's Google Business Pro for Google Business Profile Optimization
At Merchynt, we understand that as busy business owners, you may not have the time to manage your own Google Business Profile. That's why we offer Google Business Pro services to help businesses like yours optimize their profiles and reach more customers.
Our Google Business Pro services include complete data entry, keyword usage, accurate business hours, and regular updates to your Google Business Profile. We ensure that your business is easily discovered by potential customers and stands out from the competition.
In conclusion, managing and optimizing your Google My Business locations is a critical step in improving your online presence and attracting more customers. By effectively assigning roles, regularly updating information, and using Merchynt's Google Business Pro services, you can make the most of your Google My Business profiles.
Step 4: Encouraging and Managing Reviews Across All Locations
Importance of Reviews for Google My Business
Reviews are a powerful tool for businesses on Google. They act as social proof of your business's credibility, and can often be the deciding factor for potential customers choosing between you and your competitors. In fact, many customers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. They can also boost your visibility on Google Maps and improve your local search rankings.
However, it's not just about getting reviews. They need to be genuine, and coming from real customers. As we noted earlier, Google has been actively removing what it deems as fake reviews, so make sure your reviews are legitimate.
Responding to Reviews Professionally
Responding to reviews, both positive and negative, is equally important. Prompt and professional engagement with reviews gives potential customers an insight into the experience they can expect from your business. Whether the review is praising your service or pointing out areas for improvement, always respond with a positive and professional attitude. This not only shows your commitment to customer satisfaction, but also helps build trust and credibility.
It's also crucial to manage reviews across all your locations. At Merchynt, we understand that managing reviews for multiple locations can be overwhelming. That's why you can sort reviews by location group in our platform, or even assign location-specific admins to handle reviews.
Using Merchynt's Local Ranking Audit Tool with Heatmaps for Review Management
At Merchynt, we offer tools that make managing reviews easier and more efficient. Our Local Ranking Audit tool with heatmaps, for instance, allows you to see at a glance where you're receiving the most reviews and where you might need to encourage more customer feedback.
The tool not only shows you where your business is performing well, but also where there are opportunities to improve. By analyzing this data, you can make informed decisions about where to focus your efforts to improve your online presence and customer satisfaction.
In conclusion, reviews are a critical part of managing your Google My Business locations. Not only do they boost your visibility on Google, but they also provide valuable insights into customer satisfaction. With Merchynt's tools and services, you can encourage, manage, and respond to reviews across all your locations in a professional and efficient manner.
Step 5: Leveraging Tools and Services for Efficient Google My Business Management
Managing multiple Google My Business locations can be complex and time-consuming. It involves keeping your business information up-to-date, engaging with customer reviews, and regularly publishing new posts, among other tasks. However, there are tools and services available that can streamline this process and make it more efficient.
Overview of Tools for Multi-Location Profile Management
Several popular tools can help simplify the management of multiple Google My Business profiles. Some of these include Sprout Social, Sendible, Social Champ, and OneUp. These tools can help you maintain consistent brand presence across all your locations, engage with reviews in a timely manner, and optimize your profiles for better visibility.
However, if you're looking for a more comprehensive solution that not only helps you manage your Google My Business profiles but also offers local SEO services, then Merchynt is the way to go. Not only do we offer a centralized platform for managing all your profiles, but we also provide tools for performance tracking, review management, and bulk update capabilities.
Benefits of Using Merchynt's Agency Program for Agencies
At Merchynt, our Agency Program is specifically designed for agencies that are managing multiple Google My Business profiles for their clients. Our aim is to enable agencies to provide better value to their clients by streamlining the management process and improving the efficiency of their local SEO efforts.
With our Agency Program, you get access to the ProfilePro tool which leverages AI to optimize your clients' Google Business Profiles for higher rankings. It provides actionable insights and recommendations to improve your clients' local visibility and attract more customers.
Additionally, our program also offers a unique feature for bulk updates and templates. This allows you to update information for multiple listings at once, saving you time and ensuring consistency across all profiles.
Finally, with our review management tool, you can efficiently manage and respond to reviews across all locations, improving customer engagement and building trust.
In conclusion, managing multiple Google My Business profiles can be a daunting task, but with the right tools and services, it becomes a breeze. By leveraging Merchynt's tools and services, you can efficiently manage locations on Google My Business, optimize your clients' profiles for better visibility, and provide more value to your clients.
Conclusion
Recap of the 5 Steps to Manage Google My Business Locations
To effectively manage locations on Google My Business, we've outlined a straightforward, five-step process:
- Set up your Google My Business Account: Your journey begins by creating a Google My Business account and adding your business address and service area.
- Adding Multiple Locations to Your Google My Business Account: Whether you're a small business with fewer than 10 locations or a larger enterprise with more than 10 locations, Google My Business accommodates your needs. Use our ProfilePro tool to optimize your Google Business Profile across all your locations.
- Managing and Optimizing Your Google My Business Locations: Regularly updating your information and publishing new posts is crucial. Our Google Business Pro tool can assist with optimization.
- Encouraging and Managing Reviews Across All Locations: Good reviews boost your business's online reputation. Use our Local Ranking Audit Tool with Heatmaps for efficient review management.
- Leveraging Tools and Services for Efficient Google My Business Management: Utilize tools like our Agency Program to streamline your Google My Business management across multiple locations.
Final Thoughts on the Importance of Efficient Google My Business Management
We live in an age where a prominent online presence is no longer a luxury but a necessity for businesses. As Justin Silverman, Founder of Merchynt, often emphasizes, the ability to manage locations on Google My Business effectively is a game-changer. It enhances your visibility, fosters a strong online reputation, and ultimately drives more traffic to your business.
The process might seem complex, especially for businesses with multiple locations. But, armed with a strategic approach and the right tools, you can navigate this terrain with ease. At Merchynt, we are dedicated to making this process as seamless as possible for you through our range of products and services.
For more insights and tips on how to leverage Google My Business for your business, explore our blog or start a demo today. With Merchynt, managing your online presence across multiple locations doesn't have to be a daunting task. Let us help you navigate your digital marketing journey effectively.
